Aneurin Glyndwr

What's the difference between Plaid and the Tories?

Not a lot if Mohammed 'Oscar' Ashgar defection to the Tories is anything to go by. Ashgar was elected after Plaid won two seats on the regional list for South Wales East.
  
But AG was wondering whether Ashgar is allowed to change party allegiances as it was Plaid Cymru that won the seat and not Mohammed Ashgar?

Plaid split on maximum wages

Adam Price is polishing his left wing credentials today in calling for a maximum ratio between bosses' pay and those of their staff in the private sector. Ironic that he tried to bring down the Labour government at Westminster and attempted to usher in the Tories at a dissolution debate, given that the Conservatives are against the tax on those earning over £150k. Nats are Tartan Tories for sure.

And AG has no wish to appear brutal, given how sensitive some of the kids at Welsh Underlings are, but how does this sit with Plaid bloggers' defence yesterday of top pay at BBC Wales? Is it that Plaid want as a matter of principle to cap private sector but not public sector pay? Or is this just the latest example of Plaid hangers-on undermining the point their leadership is TRYING to convey. Come on guys- think it through. Do you support progressive taxation or not?

Mr Price, you presume

So AG has been thinking, during a brief moment of pause, how is it precisely Mr Priceless that you propose to turn Scholar then AM in such a short period of time? You will stay in the UK Parliament until the next General Election widely anticipated to be next Spring (2010). You will begin studying in the US in the Autumn (or perhaps you would now say 'Fall' Adam?) 2010. We know you will do an academic  year.... Ooops.. that takes us to the the Assembly Elections in May 2011.

Is this not a curious case of Mr Adam Presumptuous taking the voters for granted?

Nowhere to be seen

If you were to read Welsh Ramblings you would think that the only party to “confront the BNP’s vile activities directly” were Plaid Cymru. But where were Plaid Cymru when the BNP went on its Battle for Britain tour targeting Welsh towns? In Neath it was labour who turned out to confront the fascist, racist BNP.

While the self styled “conscience” of Plaid Bethan Jenkins failed to turn up as billed for an important campaign meeting convened by Unite Against Fascism just days before the European Elections.

And it was this blog which has continued to reveal the true face of the Nazi in a Suit. Where have Plaid been – nowhere to be seen.

Passive Progressive, dark and depressive

It is great to see Adam Priceless back on form. He blogs today, 'During what has been a fairly dark and depressing phase for progressive politics....'. Adam is plainly seeking the reflected glory of 'Billy Bragg, the Left's foremost thinker on BLAH BLAH BLAH look how clever I am'....

AG had been worried that the Priceless One might have suffered a self-importance shut-down, a pomposity bypass. He lost more than a little credibility with his performance at the recent Euro count. First he gloated 'We will win two seats, we will win the popular vote'. Then he told the BBC 'It is vitally important that we in Plaid come second to the Tories, as we are the Socialist alternative to them in Wales.' So what happened when this intellectual giant was beaten into third place? He threw his toys out of the pram, screaming at the Beeb for reporting 'This has been a bad night for Plaid too'. Priceless.

No Show Bethan

Curious that Bethan Jenkins, self-styled 'conscience' of Plaid and militantly anti-Labour, failed to turn up as billed in the Evening Post and by the organisers, for an important campaign meeting in Swansea to fight the BNP.

Around 50 activists heard Peter Hain call for 'unity in action' at the event convened by Unite Against Fascism and planned action for the future.

Contact UAF at  unite@ucu.org.uk or visit http://www.uaf.org.uk/

What Adam thought

Plaid launched their European campaign and to accompany it the Western Mail ran yet another article about what Adam Price-less is thinking about today. 

His thought of the day was Labour MEPs had let down the people of Wales. Lets just remind Adam about what our Labour MEPs have done to help the people of Wales:

European funding;
four weeks' paid holiday;
a right to parental leave;
extended maternity leave; a new right to request flexible working;
and the same protection for part-time workers as full-time workers.

No doubt over the next few weeks we will be reading daily doses of 'What Adam Thought', 'What Adam Is Thinking', 'What Adam Will Be Thinking Next', 'What Adam Had for Breakfast', 'What Adam Thought Before He'd Even Had Breakfast'.

But here on AG we will be reminding everyone of what Europe has done for us.

Hopeless Heledd

Plaid PPC for Montgomershire is blogging again...
 
Hopeless Heledd has took to blogging freaky drivel like this:
 
"Not for the first time in my life, I found myself thinking - if only I could be like Sabrina the teenage witch so that I could split myself into two versions of Heledd Fychan."
 
She then goes on to say:
 
"The one Heledd would live my life here in Wales as it is now and the other would be a writer and a historian living in Ireland."
 
Well, don't let us detain you Heledd. Your fare is in the post!

Welsh Lions

Now that the 37 players have been named in the Lions squad, Welsh fans will be proud that 13 Welsh boys have made the tour and our attention turns to how many will make the team. Thousands of Welsh fans will even be making the trip to South Africa to support the Lions.
 
But cast your minds back to September when Adam Price-less was saying that the Lions should be scrapped and replaced by a European team. The Lions is not about nationalism Adam it is a sporting tradition and the pinnacle of any Welshman, Scotsman, Englishman and Irishman’s rugby career. Adam is clearly out of touch with the Welsh people and especially the players, they are proud to be wearing the shirt.
 
"I'm over the moon, I don't think it's sunk in yet" - Andy Powell
 
"I'm delighted and honoured to have made the squad and I'm excited about travelling to South Africa. To be selected for a Lions tour is the ultimate honour for a player and I'm extremely fortunate that this is the second tour party that I've made." - Shane Williams
 
"I'm absolutely speechless, I would never have expected any of this at the start of the season." - Leigh Halfpenny
 
"The Lions are the absolute pinnacle of rugby in the country, to be named in the squad is a huge achievement and I'm delighted to have been included." - Adam Jones
 
"It's a real honour to make the squad." - Alun Wyn Jones
 
"It's fantastic news, I'm delighted to have been named a Lion, and I'm really excited about the prospect of being part of such a special experience." - Lee Byrne
 
"It's a great honour to be selected for a second Lions tour. " - Gethin Jenkins
 
Rhodri Morgan sums it up well when in congratulating the 13 selected…
 
“They have all done brilliantly to be selected.  They now face a huge challenge in getting into the Test team and beating the mighty Springboks on their home turf.  Congratulations also to Tommy Bowe who plays regional rugby for the Ospreys and his international rugby for Ireland.  They will have a wonderful, unforgettable experience because being on a Lions tour is the pinnacle of every Home Countries rugby player’s career.”
 
Lets take Adam's idea a step further - instead of Davis cup teams from each country why don't we have European teams playing North American and African teams etc. In the Olympics Europe will compete against Asia and South America etc. It’s about the best sportsmen and women competing against each other - not a chance for political point scoring.
 
Lions Rugby Shirt .... £49.99
Two test match package .... £1,900
Adam's European Team .... Price-Less

Another Plaid smear failure

Hasn't Plaid's Dai Lloyd got better things to do like serving his constituents instead of mud slinging? Five months after a conference was co-hosted by Neath MP Peter Hain and the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (German think-tank) the Plaid Assembly Member has decided to refer the matter to the electoral commission but he hasn't even got his facts right.

At the time of the conference the Electoral Commission was informed about the conference and they agree that there was nothing to declare.

A spokesman for the Electoral Commission said: “Mr Hain contacted us in November 2008 and provided us with information about the event.

“Based on this, and other information available, we concluded that no evidence had been disclosed that suggested a failure to comply with the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000."

Yet again Plaid is more concerned with mud slinging at the tax payers expense rather than getting on with representing their constituents.